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DC Comics Spotlight Projects for April, 2003

Two of the greatest animated franchises of all time collide in THUNDERCATS/BATTLE OF THE PLANETS, a 48-page Special written and illustrated by Kaare Andrews (GEN13, Spider-Man: Tangled Web) with two covers: one by DANGER GIRL’s J. Scott Campbell, and another by fan-favorite painter Alex Ross! THUNDERCATS/BATTLE OF THE PLANETS is co-published with Top Cow Productions and is a sister volume to Battle of the Planets/Thundercats, solicited elsewhere in this issue of Previews. And while the stories in each book aren’t connected, the covers will join together to form one large image by each artist!

The sudden appearance of a mystical portal between Earth and Thundera leads to chaos, confusion and adventure in this rollicking crossover between two of the most popular entertainment properties in comics today! Full of humor, action and suspense, this crossover will satisfy everyone from the casual reader to the most demanding fans of these classic characters.

The trouble begins as G-Force’s Mark finds himself magically transported to Thundera, where he’s forced to crash land. Lion-O, seeing Mark’s ship in trouble, heads to the site of the crash, urging the rest of the Thundercats to join him. But when they arrive and inspect the portal, they’re teleported to Earth!

Villains Mumm-Ra and Zoltar seize the opportunity to collaborate on some interdimensional mischief, and the lives of G-Force and the Thundercats are all in danger – unless they can figure out why their planets have been linked and how they can undo the damage!

This project is supported by trade and house ads and a minisite at www.dccomics.com.

THUNDERCATS/BATTLE OF THE PLANETS is a 48-page WildStorm one-shot edited by Jeff Mariotte that arrives in comic-books stores April 23 with a cover price of $4.95 U.S. Note: THUNDERCATS/BATTLE OF THE PLANETS will ship with two covers. All orders will be filled with J. Scott Campbell (50%) and Alex Ross (50%). Co-published with Top Cow Productions; see Battle of the Planets/Thundercats solicited elsewhere in this issue of Previews.

The Comrade of Steel?

SUPERMAN: RED SON

When the planet Krypton explodes, Jor-El sends his infant son hurtling towards Earth in a small spacecraft. The child, Kal-El, crash-lands safely…but not in Kansas. Instead, he makes his new home on a collective in the Ukraine!

The highly anticipated 3-issue Prestige Format Elseworlds miniseries SUPERMAN: RED SON explores a radically different world – one in which the ship carrying the infant who would be Superman lands in the midst of the Cold War-era Soviet Union in the 1950s. Written by Mark Millar (Ultimate X-Men, The Ultimates, THE AUTHORITY) with art and covers by Dave Johnson (100 BULLETS covers) & Andrew Robinson (HAWKMAN covers, Dusty Star) and, for issue #3, Kilian Plunkett (SMALLVILLE), RED SON is a saga that spans decades in the life of this new Superman. In this world, he ascends through the ranks to become the champion and leader of his adopted country, fighting for the rights of the proletariat and state ownership.

But his rule won’t go unchallenged. Superman faces opposition from all sides, including Soviet presidential candidate Lex Luthor, underground revolutionary Batman, and even the new and different Hal Jordan. Can he fend off the machinations of his opponents and bring the Soviet Union to glory, or will the Comrade of Steel’s reign behind the Iron Curtain crumble?

This project is supported by trade and house ads.

SUPERMAN: RED SON is a 3-issue Prestige Format Elseworlds miniseries edited by Tom Palmer, Jr. and Mike McAvennie. The 48-page issue #1 arrives in comic-book stores April 30 with a cover price of $5.95 U.S.

A mystery in space comes to Earth…

ORBITER HARDCOVER

Why does mankind go to space? And what’s waiting once we get there?

Renowned writer Warren Ellis (TRANSMETROPOLITAN, THE AUTHORITY, PLANETARY) and indie favorite Colleen Doran (A Distant Soil, THE SANDMAN) explore the answers to these questions and more in ORBITER, a 104-page VERTIGO hardcover graphic novel that’s both a psychological mystery and a science-fiction story set in the early 21st century.

There’s a sonic crack, 50 miles out. Something trailing fire, swooping down from the upper reaches of the sky. People look up, confused. It’s coming down like a dirty comet. It seems slow, but there’s no time for anyone but the most alert – or most terrified – to run away. At two miles out, some of them recognize the approaching object: a space shuttle. A craft that hasn’t flown in 10 years. And its landing gear is locked, gliding home to the Cape runway…the runway full of people.

The space shuttle Venture has returned after disappearing 10 years ago. Cruising to Earth on autopilot in a murderous fireball, its crew missing – save for the catatonic pilot – with new instrumentation, new engines, and covered in something very much like skin. And with Martian sand in the undercarriage.

Now a team of three specialists cheated out of their own dreams of spaceflight is assigned to discover the mysteries of the Venture. Where has it been? What’s been done to it? And what became of the crew – and the mind of the pilot?

Doran told The Pulse (www.comicon.com/pulse), “A book like this is a dream project for me since I have always loved the space program and have been collecting astronaut memorabilia my whole life. I have loved every minute of this assignment.”

This project is supported by trade and house ads and a minisite at www.vertigo.com.

ORBITER is a 104-page hardcover VERTIGO graphic novel edited by Heidi MacDonald and Will Dennis and is suggested for mature readers. It arrives in comic-book stores April 23 with a cover price of $24.95 U.S.

Welcome to the Fun Factory!

SWEATSHOP

Fresh from the fertile imagination of Peter Bagge, the writer/artist responsible for the critically acclaimed, outrageously funny Hate, comes SWEATSHOP, the story of short-tempered cartoonist Mel Bowling!

SWEATSHOP, which also features the art of Stephen DeStefano (BIZARRO COMICS) and Bill Wray (SAMURAI JACK SPECIAL), focuses on Bowling, an egotistical cartoonist who produces a successful, though hardly critically acclaimed, daily comic strip. The only catch is that he doesn’t actually work on it. Instead, he employs a stable of assistants who help churn out his wretched comic, all the while feeling the brunt of their boss’ notorious cruelty.

Nonetheless, his four assistants remain eager and ambitious. Each produces his own comic on the side, each with a radically different style, and each issue of SWEATSHOP features “their” work, ranging from super-hero fare to alternative autobiographical comics.

Mixing Bagge’s indelible sense of humor with a refreshing sense of experimentation and indie cred, SWEATSHOP represents a unique expansion of the DC line. Don’t miss the chance to get in on the ground floor of what’s sure to be one of 2003’s most talked-about projects!

This project is supported by trade and house ads.

SWEATSHOP is an ongoing monthly series edited by Joey Cavalieri. The 32-page issue #1 arrives in comic-book stores April 23 with a cover price of $2.95 U.S.

JLA: AGE OF WONDER

The year is 1876. On America’s hundredth birthday, thousands of citizens gather in Philadelphia to catch a glimpse of the first fruits of the Industrial Revolution. But among the crowd is one who stands apart: Clark Kent! And the Centennial Exhibition has inspired him to make a momentous decision: to reveal his alien-born powers to the world and use them to further the cause of science!

JLA: AGE OF WONDER, a 2-issue Prestige Format Elseworlds miniseries written by independent filmmaker Adisakdi Tantimedh with art and covers by Galen Showman (Renfield: A Tale of Madness; Sinergy), examines how the Man of Steel and his powers would have drastically impacted the world had he debuted during the Industrial Revolution.

Kent seeks out the master inventor of the era, Thomas Edison, and his young assistant, Lex Luthor. Using secrets unlocked in the circuitry of the rocketship that carried Kent to Earth, they gather a group of scientists to form The League of Science, dedicated to perpetuating technological advancements and backed by millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne.

Within weeks, science-inspired heroes emerge to usher in a new Age of Wonder: Green Lantern, The Flash, The Atom, and the Starman appear, helping people in need and pointing the way to the Utopian world of technology just on the horizon. But Luthor has another use in mind for the League’s discoveries – plans far more malevolent than those imagined by the League’s other members. And if Luthor succeeds in his plans, the Age of Wonder might turn into an Age of Chaos!

This project is supported by house ads.

JLA: AGE OF WONDER is a 2-issue Prestige Format Elseworlds series edited by Andy Helfer. The 48-page issue #1 arrives in comic-book stores April 9 with a cover price of $5.95 U.S.

Quoth the Dark Knight…

BATMAN: NEVERMORE

What happens when the World’s Greatest Detective joins forces with the inventor of the modern detective story?

In Baltimore during the 1800s, the bodies of a number of high-ranking citizens have been found, the victims murdered in ways that defy explanation. The only element linking the murders is the sighting of a giant raven fleeing each crime scene. A young Poe, reporting for the Baltimore Sun, takes it upon himself to get to the bottom of the events, but so has the Batman!

What Poe finds as he delves into the hidden lives of the city’s rich and famous may leave his mind broken! His first steps bring him in touch with Professor Jonathan Crane, Roderick Usher’s family and Bruce Wayne, the disaffected and aloof son of long-dead parents.

When Poe comes face-to-face with Batman and realizes that nothing can be trusted at face value, he can’t be too sure that the ever-resourceful Batman isn’t the same raven-like figure that has been connected to the murders all along.

This project is supported by trade and house ads.

BATMAN: NEVERMORE is a 5-issue Elseworlds miniseries edited by Matt Idelson. The 32-page issue #1 arrives in comic-book stores April 2 with a cover price of $2.50 U.S.

When darkness falls…

BEWARE THE CREEPER

Paris, 1925: a city of dreams…and a city of nightmares. A violent rapist prowls the city streets while the corrupt authorities, controlled by a wealthy right-wing family, turn a blind eye. From the burgeoning art scene emerges an enigmatic hero – the bizarre, brash and colorful creature of the night known as The Creeper. And she’s got one word for the self-serving upper-class: Beware.

BEWARE THE CREEPER is a 5-issue VERTIGO miniseries by an exciting, fresh creative team that takes on a DC classic and reshapes it with a VERTIGO twist: writer Jason Hall (co-creator of Pistolwhip, Wizard’s Best Indie Book of 2001 and one of Time.com’s Best Comics of 2001) and artist Cliff Chiang (JOSIE MAC, BATMAN: THE GOLDEN STREETS OF GOTHAM).

In the aftermath of World War I, the bohemian art scene explodes onto Paris – much to the chagrin of the rich and powerful Arbogast family. Ravishing surrealist painter Judith Benoir wants desperately to make a splash – even if it means ignoring the warnings of her jilted lover Inspector Allain and her prudish sister Madeline. Amid the cultural clash among aristocracy, religion and the avant-garde, The Creeper escalates her simple cat burglaries into spectacular art crimes, establishing her as a cultural icon. But what are the true motivations behind The Creeper’s actions? And how long before her antics spiral out of control and the law closes in?

Set against the intriguing historic backdrop of 1920s Paris and full of action, drama and suspense, BEWARE THE CREEPER is a smart, sexy thriller with a visual flair inspired by films such as Moulin Rouge and The City of Lost Children.

This project is supported with a full-color poster, trade and house ads, and a minisite at www.vertigo.com.

BEWARE THE CREEPER is a 5-issue VERTIGO miniseries edited by Will Dennis and is suggested for mature readers. The 32-page issue #1 arrives in comic-book stores April 16 with a cover price of $2.95 U.S.

Comin’ atcha like an elbow drop from the top rope!

MUCHA LUCHA

Honor, family, tradition…and donuts!

It’s the Code of Masked Wrestling, and it’s a way of life for best friends Rikochet, Buena Girl and the Flea, three students of the International School of Lucha Libre and the stars of MUCHA LUCHA, the latest hit cartoon series to make the jump from the Kids WB! to comic-book stores!

Featuring stories and covers by the animated series’ creators, this 3-issue miniseries spotlights the adventures of Rikochet, Buena Girl and Flea as they learn to wrestle with skill and wit, develop a special signature move, and still find time just to be kids. Of course, their pesky arch-rivals at the Hairy Knuckle Wrestling Academy won’t make things easy for them!

In MUCHA LUCHA #1, written by Eddie Mort with art by THE POWERPUFF GIRLS team Ricardo Garcia Fuentes and Mike DeCarlo and a cover by Lili Chin, Rikochet’s treasured El Rey action figure gets whupped by a rival and has to leave the toy box! Without the inspiration of his mentor, what’s a masked boy to do? Find out in “El Rey, Come Home!”

MUCHA LUCHA is a 3-issue miniseries edited by Joan Hilty. The 32-page issue #1 arrives in comic-book stores April 23 with a cover price of $2.25 U.S.

PLANETARY #16

PLANETARY is back…and it’s worth the wait!

The acclaimed team of Warren Ellis (GLOBAL FREQUENCY, TRANSMETROPOLITAN) and John Cassaday (Captain America, DESPERADOES) are reunited in PLANETARY #16, marking the return of the bimonthly series embraced by fans and critics alike for its unique storytelling and exploration of the secret history of the 20th century.

With The Four momentarily in disarray, Elijah Snow initiates the second part of his comeback plan: to hunt down and discover the truth about Anna Hark, daughter of the criminal genius of the ’30s, who died in the Adirondacks with the rest of Axel Brass’ associates. But as Snow soon finds out, Hark’s story begins in medieval China and ends in the spires of modern America!

Don’t miss this spectacular new beginning for one of the most thought-provoking and engaging comic-book series published!

This project is supported by trade and house ads and a minisite at www.wildstorm.com.

PLANETARY is an ongoing bimonthly series edited by Scott Dunbier. The 32-page issue #16 arrives in comic-book stores April 2 with a cover price of $2.50 U.S.

A Black Wind Blows Through Gotham…

BATGIRL #39

It’s a turning point for Batgirl, as writer Dylan Horrocks (HUNTER: THE AGE OF MAGIC, Hicksville) takes over the reins…and you can be sure Batgirl’s life will be turned upside-down!

Horrocks, the writer behind the award-winning Hicksville and Pickle, begins his run with BATGIRL #39, an issue featuring art by Adrian Sibar (Planet of the Apes) and Andy Owens (SUPERMAN, BATMAN).

A mysterious metahuman called Black Wind has blown into Gotham, and he’s making Cassandra Cain’s life miserable. Not only is he more than a match for Batgirl on the battlefield, but he also seems to have swept her off her proverbial feet. The only solution, as Barbara Gordon sees it, is a cruise. But when Black Wind and another familiar metahuman show up on the same ship, Cassandra’s vacation can’t help but take a turn for the worse!

Don’t miss the start of an all-new chapter in the life of Batgirl!

BATGIRL is an ongoing series edited by Michael Wright. The 32-page issue #39 arrives in comic-book stores April 23 with a cover price of $2.50 U.S.

Evil’s not what you think it is…

THE LEGION #19: “Dream Crime” Part 1

The 31st century just became a much more dangerous place…

Prepare yourselves for “Dream Crime,” an epic 5-part tale beginning in THE LEGION #19 that marks the return of some old friends as well as one of the DCU’s darkest villains. Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, the team that has redefined the Legion for a new era, with art by Chris Batista (Thunderbolts) & Mark Farmer (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: THE NAIL, ANIMAL MAN). “Dream Crime” also features five interlocking covers by new cover artists Tony Harris (STARMAN) and Tom Feister.

In THE LEGION #19, Saturn Girl and Dreamer visit Titan, Saturn Girl’s homeworld. Saturn Girl seeks the assistance of her telepathic mentors to repair damage to her mental powers caused by the strain of the last year. Meanwhile, Dreamer hopes the Titanet telepathic system will turn her own powers of prediction into a large-scale early-warning network for the United Planets. But as Saturn Girl discovers, the damage to her mind might be more extensive than she first believed…and Dreamer’s first experiments with the Titanet show her terrible visions of an ancient darkness rising once more!

The worst is yet to come for the Legionnaires, as they’ll soon find out. Legion fans new and old can’t afford to miss “Dream Crime!”

This project is supported by house ads.

THE LEGION is an ongoing series edited by Steve Wacker. The 32-page issue #19 arrives in comic-book stores April 30 with a cover price of $2.50 U.S.

Speed kills!

THE FLASH: “Blitz”

He was the yin to Barry Allen’s yang…The Flash’s opposite number, bearing the same powers, but without the same heroic underpinnings. Now, Professor Zoom – the Reverse Flash – is back from the dead!

It all begins in THE FLASH #197, the kick-off to the 4-part story “Blitz,” by critically acclaimed writer Geoff Johns with art by Scott Kolins and Doug Hazlewood and covers by Kolins.

The secrets behind Zoom’s origin are revealed in THE FLASH #197, a story that puts a dark new twist on an old adversary and offers a new look at the life-threatening clash between two men who can move at the speed of light.

But what is Zoom’s strange goal? It’s not what you think…and he’ll risk anything to achieve it!

It all builds up to July’s monumental THE FLASH #200, guest-starring Jay Garrick and Jesse Quick, in which Wally West faces a startling – and unexpected – change!

This project is supported by trade and house ads and a minisite at www.dccomics.com.

THE FLASH is an ongoing series edited by Joey Cavalieri. The 32-page issue #197 arrives in comic-book stores April 16 with a cover price of $2.25 U.S.

GREEN LANTERN/ GREEN ARROW: “Black Circle, Urban Knights”

Once upon a time, there were two warriors in green: one, a cautious conservative, the other, a liberal hothead. Those unlikely allies were Green Lantern and Green Arrow. Yet, in spite of their radical differences – or maybe because of them – the adventures of these hard-travelin’ heroes would become the stuff of legend. But that was then…

“Black Circle, Urban Knights” is a 6-part crossover running weekly through the pages of GREEN ARROW #23-25, written by Ben Raab (Uncanny X-Men), and GREEN LANTERN #162-164, written by Judd Winick (BLOOD AND WATER). Each part features art and covers by Charlie Adlard (BATMAN: SCARFACE, Astronauts in Trouble). GREEN ARROW and GREEN LANTERN are released twice each in April to maintain a weekly schedule for this explosive storyline!

The Black Circle, an interplanetary crime syndicate with an illegal empire spanning half the galaxy, is about to turn Earth into its latest cosmic crackhouse. But as our heroes soon discover, this operation isn’t just business…it’s personal!

This project is supported with trade and house ads and a minisite at www.dccomics.com.

GREEN LANTERN and GREEN ARROW are ongoing series edited by Bob Schreck. The 32-page GREEN ARROW #23 arrives in comic-book stores April 9 and GREEN ARROW #24 arrives in comic-book stores April 23, each with a cover price of $2.50 U.S. GREEN LANTERN #162 arrives in comic-book stores April 16 and GREEN LANTERN #163 arrives in comic-book stores April 30, each with a cover price of $2.25 U.S.

THE JOKE’S OVER!

BATMAN #614
It’s the story you’ve waited for…by the most popular BATMAN creative team in years!

One is the Dark Knight Detective…the other, the Clown Prince of Crime. These arch-enemies have spent years battling across Gotham City. Now, Batman is ready to end that battle once and for all.

BATMAN #614 – “The Joke” – is by the acclaimed team of “Hush,” the story arc that has rocketed BATMAN to the top of the sales charts: Jeph Loeb (BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN, SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS), Jim Lee (Uncanny X-Men, WILDCATS) and Scott Williams (Uncanny X-Men, WILDCATS). This issue coincides with the release of the BATMAN: HUSH Hardcover, which collects BATMAN #608-612.

The Joker has gone too far. This time, Batman’s not kidding when he decides to take down his green-haired foe for good. Batman seeks retribution for the Joker’s many crimes, but can he finally do what needs to be done? Guest-starring Robin and Batgirl and featuring an epic clash years in the making, this issue is not to be missed! Plus, see elsewhere in this issue of Previews for the BATMAN: HUSH Hardcover!

BATMAN is an ongoing series edited by Bob Schreck. The 32-page issue #614 arrives in comic-book stores April 30 with a cover price of $2.25 U.S.

TOM STRONG #20

“What might have been.”

Four melancholy words that conjure a swirl of emotions when a lost minute here or there can make a world of difference in the outcome of events.

In a tale called “How Tom Stone Got Started,” Tom finds out what would have happened – who he would have become – if the events surrounding the accident that left his parents stranded on Attabar Teru had happened just two minutes later. Journey back to the last days of the 19th century – to a time before Tom Strong’s birth – and learn how much can change in a handful of seconds!

TOM STRONG is an ongoing bimonthly series edited by Scott Dunbier. The 32-page issue #20 arrives in comic-book stores April 9 with a cover price of $2.95 U.S.

BATMAN: HUSH HARDCOVER

Three creative heavyweights…one iconic character. It was a recipe for success from the outset, and the fruitful team-up of Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee and Scott Williams is in the midst of one of the most memorable – and best-selling – Batman tales in years. Now, the first five chapters – originally presented in the sold-out BATMAN #608-609 and the follow-up story in #610-612 – are collected into a single volume, BATMAN: HUSH, perfect for fans who loved the stories the first time around, and for those who want to catch up on the action!

In addition to a new cover by Lee & Williams, BATMAN: HUSH also features four brand-new pages of story as well as two never-before-published pages previously available exclusively on www.dccomics.com.

The story picks up with Batman hot on the trail of Killer Croc, piecing together the mystery behind a $10 million stash swiped by Catwoman. The clues lead the Dark Knight to Metropolis where he squares off against old foe Poison Ivy and confronts Superman!

Don’t miss a piece of history, as Loeb, Lee & Williams take on some of the DCU’s greatest characters in their own powerful style!

This project is supported with trade and house ads.

BATMAN: HUSH is a 128-page hardcover arriving in comic-book stores April 30 with a cover price of $19.95 U.S.

BROOKLYN DREAMS

The four-volume Paradox Fiction title BROOKLYN DREAMS returns in a single 384-page softcover, bringing the story of 17-year-old Vincent Carl Santini’s momentous senior year in high school back to life.

Springing from the minds of writer J.M. DeMatteis (THE SPECTRE, Amazing Spider-Man) and artist Glenn Barr (REAL WORLDS: JUSTICE LEAGUE), the 384-page BROOKLYN DREAMS is a memoir and a meditation, a tale of growing up and an exploration of mortality. It was originally published in 1995 as part of DC’s Paradox Press line, as were ROAD TO PERDITION and A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE.

“No project I’ve worked on in my twenty-plus years in the business means more to me than BROOKLYN DREAMS,” says DeMatteis. “I am absolutely delighted – and that’s a huge understatement – that it’s finally being collected together in one volume.”

Mixing the wry and the heartfelt, DeMatteis’ narrative is perfectly complemented by Barr’s expressive renderings – ranging from the somber to the ultra-cartoonish – as an older and (presumably) wiser Santini looks back on his childhood and adolescence in his native Brooklyn and how they led to the life-changing revelations of his senior year. Like ROAD TO PERDITION, BROOKLYN DREAMS is a visionary work, engaging to a wide variety of readers and creatively ahead of its time.

This project is supported with house ads.

BROOKLYN DREAMS is a 384-page Paradox Press trade paperback and is suggested for mature readers. It arrives in comic-book stores April 16 with a cover price of $12.95 U.S.

GREEN ARROW: QUIVER TRADE PAPERBACK

The first storyline of one of the most talked-about comic books of 2001 is collected in a softcover edition of the hardcover!

Oliver Queen’s mysterious reappearance in the DC Universe led to speculation about how Queen could survive death aboard an exploding airplane. In QUIVER, readers confront the truth as they follow the reborn Green Arrow along his quest for the media-dubbed “Star City Slayer.”

QUIVER features several guest-stars who have questions that demand answers, including Queen’s ex-teammates in the JLA, his ex-lover Black Canary, his ex-partner Arsenal, and the son he hardly knew, Connor Hawke – who adopted the mantle of Green Arrow after Queen’s “death.” A certain Dark Knight from Gotham City has some questions of his own, but he won’t like the answers…

Displaying Smith’s masterful characterization, brilliantly engaging dialogue and eye for action, QUIVER follows Oliver Queen through man’s most uncharted realms – life, death and back to life.

This project is supported with house ads.

GREEN ARROW: QUIVER is a 232-page trade paperback arriving in comic-book stores April 2 with a cover price of $17.95 U.S.

JSA: FAIR PLAY

Just like crime, gambling doesn’t pay…especially when you’re gambling at The House!

JSA: FAIR PLAY, a 176-page trade paperback written by Geoff Johns (THE FLASH, HAWKMAN) with art by Rags Morales (HAWKMAN) and Stephen Sadowski, collects JSA #26-32 plus a 5-page story from JSA: SECRET FILES #2 by Johns and Derek Aucoin, with a new cover by Michael Bair (HAWKMAN).

Roulette runs the most dangerous gambling den on Earth – a club where costumed adventurers are lured to fight for their lives while super-villains bet on the outcome. Now she’s turned her sights on the JSA, and she’s got more than a professional interest in seeing the team destroyed!

Will the JSA’s survival come down to a roll of the dice?

This project is supported with house ads.

JSA: FAIR PLAY is a 176-page trade paperback arriving in comic-book stores April 2 with a cover price of $14.95 U.S.

THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES ARCHIVES VOLUME 12 HARDCOVER

By the mid-1970s, owing to the successful efforts of its new creative teams, the Legion of Super-Heroes began to share equal billing with its iconic member, Superboy. The new, racier Legion’s popularity skyrocketed, setting the stage for more 30th century classics to come. THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES ARCHIVES Volume 12 celebrates that legendary era of Legion history with 16 classic stories from SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #213-223 and KARATE KID #1, written by Cary Bates, Jim Shooter and Paul Levitz, with art by Mike Grell, Ric Estrada, Michael Nasser and others, and a cover by Grell. In addition, long-time Legion fan Mike Flynn contributes an introduction.

In keeping with the Legion’s history of change, editor Murray Boltinoff shuffled the creative teams, bringing in an old hand as well as new, soon-to-be favorites. Newcomer Mike Grell was given the tough task of filling Dave Cockrum’s shoes for SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, drawing one of comics’ most intricate and popular super-teams. Grell rose to the challenge and quickly made a name for himself, bringing edge-of-your-seat storytelling to the Legion and, along with Bates, Shooter, Levitz, Estrada and Nasser, created one of the Legion’s most memorable periods.

In addition to reprinting KARATE KID #1, the spin-off book spawned by the Legion’s popularity during this sera, this volume also features many cornerstone foes of Legion lore, including The Fatal Five, Tyroc, the Miracle Machine, the Time Trapper, and more! For those familiar with this classic period, enjoy revisiting the moment. For those discovering the Legion of Super-Heroes for the first time, enjoy the ride!

This project is supported with house ads.

THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES ARCHIVES Volume 12 is a 232-page hardcover arriving in comic-book stores April 9 with a cover price of $49.95 U.S.

THE SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOLUME 10 HARDCOVER

The comprehensive collection of Will Eisner’s classic, award-winning saga of The Spirit continues with THE SPIRIT ARCHIVES Volume 10, a 192-page hardcover reprinting the newspaper Spirit sections from January 1945 through June 1946.

Although Eisner was still in the Army during this time, the legend of The Spirit was in the hands of able members of Eisner’s staff: writers Manly Wade Wellman and William Woolfolk and legendary artists Jack Cole and Lou Fine!

Volume 10 features almost 200 pages of classic Spirit adventures, including the ghostly mystery Ellen Dolan stumbles across at the old Tenacre place; the kidnapping of a war-hero’s daughter; and a gambling debt that leads to murder. The Spirit also investigates how Ebony wound up in a sultan’s harem and why Commissioner Dolan harbored a criminal in his house. Plus, a portfolio of Eisner’s military-related artwork produced while he was in the Army!

This project is supported with house ads.

THE SPIRIT ARCHIVES Volume 10 is a 192-page hardcover arriving in comic-book stores April 23 with a cover price of $49.95 U.S.

ADAM STRANGE: THE MAN OF TWO WORLDS TRADE PAPERBACK

One of the DCU’s best-known science fiction heroes, Adam Strange is an Earth man who travels via the Zeta beam to the far planet of Rann. There he becomes a hero to his adopted world…or has he?

ADAM STRANGE: THE MAN OF TWO WORLDS is a 160-page trade paperback collecting the 1990 3-issue Prestige Format miniseries, written by Richard Bruning (GANGLAND) with art by Origin’s Andy Kubert (who provides a new cover) and color art by Adam Kubert (Ultimate X-Men). In addition, the trade paperback features a new introduction by Bruning as well as sketchbook material from Andy Kubert.

All lifeforms on Rann are facing extinction because of mysterious increasing sterility. Due to the bleak future of the planet, Adam is held in contempt by much of the populace, but there is a glimmer of hope: Adam’s wife, Alanna, is expecting a child…

In THE MAN OF TWO WORLDS, we discover the man behind the myth. Adam Strange’s childhood on Earth is explored, his relationship with his estranged family is revealed, and secrets of Rann – and of Adam’s new life – are uncovered.

Once Adam Strange was celebrated as a hero of two worlds. Now…he’s in danger of losing them both.

This project is supported with house ads.

ADAM STRANGE: THE MAN OF TWO WORLDS is a 160-page trade paperback arriving in comic-book stores April 16 with a cover price of $19.95 U.S.

Fast, Faster, Fastest!

FLASH: TERMINAL VELOCITY – NEW PRINTING TRADE PAPERBACK

Wally West, a.k.a. the Flash, can run faster than any hero has before – and it’s causing him to lose his grip on this plane of existence. As he struggles to retain his humanity and defeat the evil of Kobra, he must also find a replacement should he lose the battle, his love and his life.

FLASH: TERMINAL VELOCITY – NEW EDITION collects the storyline from FLASH #0 and #95-100 that made the title one of the most talked-about super-hero comics of the time. This classic tale features the talents of writer Mark Waid (JLA, Fantastic Four), with art by Carlos Pacheco, Salvador Larrocca, Mike Wieringo, Oscar Jimenez, José Marzan, Jr, and Sergio Borjas.

As Wally faces the potentially lethal threat of Kobra, he must choose someone to take over the mantle of Flash. Will it be Impulse, Jesse Quick, Max Mercury, Johnny Quick, or the original Flash Jay Garrick? TERMINAL VELOCITY is a fast-paced adventure that you won’t be able to put down!

This project is supported with house ads.

FLASH: TERMINAL VELOCITY – NEW EDITION is a 192-page trade paperback arriving in comic-book stores April 2 with a cover price of $14.95 U.S.

LUCIFER: THE DIVINE COMEDY TRADE PAPERBACK

Unfortunately for Lucifer Morningstar, even the best-laid plans of fallen angels sometimes hit a snag…especially when they involve Death of The Endless.

Written by Mike Carey (HELLBLAZER, THE SANDMAN PRESENTS) with art by Peter Gross, Ryan Kelly and Dean Ormston and a painted cover by Christopher Moeller, LUCIFER: THE DIVINE COMEDY collects LUCIFER #21-28, in which the Lightbringer continues working on his magnum opus – a new universe beyond the constraints of our own.

With the original gate between the two worlds shattered into a million separate gates, beings from all of the worlds in the old Creation now have the opportunity to join Lucifer’s recently opened existence. But while neither Heaven nor Hell await them there, the forces aligned against the Lightbringer still have a card or two left to play…and their attitude towards Lucifer’s new subjects is a far cry from charitable.

This project is supported with house ads.

LUCIFER: THE DIVINE COMEDY is a 192-page trade paperback arriving in comic-book stores April 9 with a cover price of $17.95 U.S.

BATMAN: HARVEST BREED SOFTCOVER

From the brilliant writer/painter behind the compelling graphic novel ENEMY ACE: WAR IDYLL comes a horrific tale of vengeance and consequence. Written and painted by George Pratt, BATMAN: HARVEST BREED is a spine-tingling 96-page softcover edition of the hardcover graphic novel that leaves you on the edge of your seat.

A series of grisly murders in Gotham City leads Commissioner James Gordon to reopen the file on similar homicides from years past – ones that have gone unresolved. The murders’ decidedly demonic overtones bring Batman into the case, determined to uncover the truth behind the killings. The trail of dead bodies leads to a very unlikely suspect who may be the source of unspeakable evil. But what is her connection to the murders?

Renowned as both a writer and painter, Pratt’s ENEMY ACE: WAR IDYLL set a standard for painted graphic novels and he outdoes himself with HARVEST BREED, mixing elements of contemporary comics, demonic villains and the battlefields of a long-ended war.

This project is supported with house ads.

BATMAN: HARVEST BREED is a 96-page softcover graphic novel edited by Matt Idelson. It arrives in comic-book stores April 16 with a cover price of $17.95 U.S.

GEN13: MEANWHILE… TRADE PAPERBACK

Adam Warren stands as a unique talent. A manga-influenced visionary who brought an original sensibility and quirky voice to the fan-favorite teens of Gen13. The first part of Warren’s groundbreaking run on Gen13 – issues #60-65 – was presented in the hit GEN13: SUPER-HUMAN LIKE YOU, and now, GEN13: MEANWHILE… collects Warren’s GEN13 #43-44 and 66-70, featuring an all-star lineup of artists, including J. Scott Campbell, Terry Dodson, Jim Lee, Whilce Portacio, Lee Bermejo, Kaare Andrews, Rick Mays, Ed Benes, and Brian Stelfreeze.

GEN13: MEANWHILE…, wrapped in a new cover by Warren, includes the 2-issue “Failed Universe” saga as well as “Uncle Cloud,” the in-depth examination of Sarah Rainmaker’s family history and weather control powers. Collected here for the first time, these issues – full of cheap laughs and rich drama – are joined by an earlier Adam Warren-written Gen13 story guest-starring Mr. Majestic.

Warren’s twisted imagination speeds the reader through time and space, including visits to Jupiter, a Mongolian Grill, and the Authority’s Carrier as Caitlin, Roxy, Bobby, Grunge and Sarah cope with wonky physics and a promise made in desperation to evil Ivana Baiul. As a special bonus, at no extra cost, we throw in the 2-part story arc “A Savage Breast,” in which a pop song threatens to take over the world!

This project is supported with house ads.

GEN13: MEANWHILE… is a 160-page trade paperback arriving in comic-book stores April 16 with a cover price of $17.95 U.S.